Realistically, what are the chances...

[ShimmyJr]

at this point, that we will be able to sign a big man from the 2005 class?

I mean I am guessing that it is slim pickings and I don't know if we are seriously in the running for anyone - is Theo Davis going to go to Texas or the NBA?

Any insights on this would be much obliged...I really would like to get a big man for next year.

[nychoya3]

There are a number of names out there, but Theo Davis isn't one of them. Brian Morris from Washington. Uche Echefu from DC. And a bunch of juco players. Coach seems very serious about adding another big guy to the roster for next year.

[SFHoya99]

To my knowledge, we've got a very outside chance at Uche Echefu, who would be a complete coup.

We've got an outside chance at a JUCO named N'Diaye. And we've got a decent (but less than 50%) chance at Brian Morris.

I'd say we've got a 50% chance of landing one of them if III offers all of them.

[1803]

I don't have any inside information, but it seems to me that a lot of recruiting comes down to the opportunity at PT that a player, especially a highly regarded one is going to be get. With the success of Green this year, and the development of Hibbert, it is hard to see a freshman cracking the starting lineup next season at the four or the five. This is not to say that I would not love to see the Hoyas get a big man, but it may not be in the cards with two freshman doing a nice job at the two traditional big man spots.

[GUHoya07]

Yeah, but a lot of top players dont even think about the playing time issue that much and who is already there. This very clear when you look at schools like Duke, UNC, Kentucky etc. signing tons of top talent when they already have so much. Most of these really great players have so much confidence in themselves that they think they'll be able to come in and beat out whoever is already on the roster for playing time.

This obviously isn't always true but it's the mindset they have and it's why you see like 6 McD AA's on one team.

That being said, we still have plenty of PT available in the frontcourt. Jeff should still play at least 35 minutes a game, but there are a few breather minutes there and we still have lots of time for someone at Center because Roy isn't going to be playing entire games.

I think one of the JUCO's is most likely as a new one named Jessan Gray has also popped up on the radar and although Echefu seems highly unlikely I wouldn't put anything past the staff. Im not a big fan of Morris because if he is really only 6' 7" I think we should probably pass. If he had great potetntial down low like Sweets who was also undersized then I could see it, but a mediocre 6' 7" isn't so exciting.

[Fan Of The Game]

I agree with GUHoya. There's such a "who knows?" factor when it comes to future playing time. Maybe Hibbert doesn't develop. Maybe Green develops quickly and only plays 2 seasons before heading off to the NBA.

A month ago most of us would have argued that it'd be tough to crack the Georgetown starting line-up as a PG anytime soon since Wallace had wrapped it up for years to come. A month later...well, let's just say the possibility exists that someone could come in and unseat Wallace at the point.

(This is nothing against Wallace, I'm rooting for him all the way).

[SFHoya99]

Fan said:

I agree with GUHoya. There's such a "who knows?" factor when it comes to future playing time. Maybe Hibbert doesn't develop. Maybe Green develops quickly and only plays 2 seasons before heading off to the NBA.

A month ago most of us would have argued that it'd be tough to crack the Georgetown starting line-up as a PG anytime soon since Wallace had wrapped it up for years to come. A month later...well, let's just say the possibility exists that someone could come in and unseat Wallace at the point.

(This is nothing against Wallace, I'm rooting for him all the way).

There's a lot of time to be earned in our post setup. Roy has had some very good games, but he's had an equal amount of "15 minutes of lost play" games. Add in Jeff's potential early jump and his current excessive minutes and a post player has plenty of minutes to grab even if he isn't significantly better than Roy.

As for Wallace, he's an important part of the lineup. But BC exposed our style of play to some extent. We don't have an explosive penetrator or scorer. Jeff and Brandon can score, but no one would ever call either a scorer in even the Daryll Hill/Carl Krauser mode. Sometimes you need that.

If one of our incoming guards can offer that (or Ray or Tyler), they'll get some significant PT next year. We needed something to force BC's D off the perimeter and it didn't happen until Tyler's backcuts in the late second half.

[FOTP]

Plus, who wants some guy who doesn't want to compete for playing time. I'd rather have a guy who says: "I can start on this team" vs. someone that says: "Well, even if I play badly I want my PT". Never works.

If you're that good you will play a ton of minutes.

[GUHoya07]

We don't have an explosive penetrator or scorer.

If one of our incoming guards can offer that (or Ray or Tyler), they'll get some significant PT next year.

This sounds like Jessie Sapp.

[SFHoya99]

GUHoya2007 said:

This sounds like Jessie Sapp.

Yes, although I also think that people sell Josh a bit short on his penetration skills. During Kenner League he was coming off a knee injury (surgery?), but he took 24 FTs in a game last week, and it sounds as if he's got the physical tools.

Ray obviously has that mentality (a bit too much). Not sure Tyler's handle is there, yet, but those were the crispest back cuts this team has seen.

And no one has seen Marc, but he's billed as a slasher.

There's a lot of potential there, but I agree Sapp seems to fit the bill the best.

[ShimmyJr]

SFHoya99 said:

There's a lot of time to be earned in our post setup. Roy has had some very good games, but he's had an equal amount of "15 minutes of lost play" games. Add in Jeff's potential early jump and his current excessive minutes and a post player has plenty of minutes to grab even if he isn't significantly better than Roy.

As for Wallace, he's an important part of the lineup. But BC exposed our style of play to some extent. We don't have an explosive penetrator or scorer. Jeff and Brandon can score, but no one would ever call either a scorer in even the Daryll Hill/Carl Krauser mode. Sometimes you need that.

If one of our incoming guards can offer that (or Ray or Tyler), they'll get some significant PT next year. We needed something to force BC's D off the perimeter and it didn't happen until Tyler's backcuts in the late second half.

SFHoya, couldn't agree with you more...There is a TON of time to soak up with incoming recruits in our front court...Green is playing 40 minutes EVERY game...regardless of what you all think, this is not a perfect situation - even the best players in the NCAA need a breather to keep their game at the top...as for Hibbert, he has had promising spurts...let's leave it at that - he is not the second coming of mutombo at this point - the 15 minutes of lossed minutes is an excellent description...I hope that he blossoms into a solid Big East center and contributor on both ends, but right now - he seems like he might be a Nick Smith from IL without the outside shot -- hopefully being a bench contributor on a team with real big and stong athletes -Echefu seems to be cut from this mold...

[SFHoya99]

Uche has the talent to start right away, but I don't know where his skills are. I think Roy would benefit from coming off the bench - less pressure, and more ability to blend into the offense, rather than being the focus. Hopefully, by his upperclassmen years, he'll be ready to take that focus.